Russell, the former Williamson High School and LSU star, was
arrested on July 5 after investigators found one bottle of codeine
syrup during a search of his River Forest Drive home by the Mobile
County Sheriff's Office's undercover narcotics team. Investigators said
Russell did not have a prescription for the opiate.

Here's what al.com readers are saying about the story:

"Looking at the pictures, he looks like a rock star having the time of
his life. I wonder how many children are looking at this and visualizing
him as their hero." -jarhaid

"Good luck to you Mr. Russell. I see no need for anyone to be arrested
and prosecuted for ingesting any substance so long as they have not
harmed anyone else or denied anyone else their pursuit of life, liberty,
happiness or property in the process. Where is the harm? Where is the
victim? It's amazing that people of the South worship football, a brutal
sport that causes lots of injuries, but have no sympathy for the
players who suffer long after the game is over." -lorettanall

"A government that respected the public interest would allow a dope to do
his dope, provided he caused no harm to anyone else, and incurred no
health-care obligations to the taxpayers. Empty the prisons of the drug
users, put the street gangs out of business, remove a huge corrupting
influence from government and police (the 'war on drugs' is an expensive
failure), and then make available lots of prison space to house the
robbers, thieves, rapists, etc. Add in some quarries where hardcore
criminals can break rocks in the hot sun, from dawn till dusk, and watch
our quality of life soar." -TVC15